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N200m Fraud: EFCC Grills Enugu Gov’s Adviser, Pastor Sam Iyiogwe

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By Ogbonna Casmir

The Economic and Fnancial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has quizzed a Senior Special Adviser to Enugu State Government on Special Duties, Pastor Sam Ifeanyi Iyiogwe, for alleged embezzlement of over N200 million.

The ex-council chairman was reportedly quizzed early this week on alleged money laundering when he was the chairman of the Nkanu East Local Government Area, Enugu State.

Sources said the former Local Government Chairman was quizzed by officials of EFCC at their Enugu zonal office for several hours but was allowed to go at about 9 pm with a directive to report to the office on a later date.

The height of the sleaze was the alleged payment of N1.5million monthly to his wife without legislative approval.

Also, the cashier of the council, Mrs. Felicia Okeke, withdrew N80million from the council account with UBA and deposited same into the UBA bank account of the suspect while in office.

According to a top source in the commission, the invitation of the Special Adviser followed a petition on how he allegedly mismanaged funds while in office.

 Some of the allegations are as follows:

Diversion of funds meant for the development of the local government into a  personal account, Spending funds without approval from the Nkanu East Local Government Area Legislative Council, Non-execution of up to 30% capital project captured under 2012 – 2015 for which billions of naira were appropriated, Withholding of workers’ salaries for several months, including leave allowances which were never paid for four years, Refurbishment of the LGA bus with N5, 000,000(five million naira) and lavishing N5, 000,000 (Five Million Naira) of bribe to some council members to cover up some of his corrupt practices, Operation of a domiciliary account with $30,000.

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The source added: “Iyiogwe, who is said to be a pastor, was alleged to have been paying his wife N1.5m monthly without legislative approval.

He allegedly diverted public funds for the construction of a shopping plaza at the Ogui Road Junction; an estate near Mbaukwu Street, Enugu; a multi-million naira mansion in his village at Ubahu; a filling station at Agbani; fleet of cars for transport services being managed by his wife in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“He was said to have used some of his special advisers to divert N20million for road repairs that was never carried out, while awarding another road contract for N100million that was never constructed, among other alleged infractions.

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“Investigations into the allegations contained in the petition confirmed that the cashier of the council, Mrs. Felicia Okeke, withdrew N80million from the council account with UBA and deposited same into the UBA bank account of the suspect while in office.”

The source added that the Head of Works of the local government, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, admitted during interrogation that he was used by the suspect to “launder various sums of money.”

“Okonkwo admitted that the suspect, Pastor Sam Iyiogwe Ifeanyi, actually asked him to forge the various receipts used for the retirement of the looted funds, while a certain Evangelist Felix Okoye forged the receipts of Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS, Radio Nigeria and Nigerian Television Authority NTA, used in carrying out some fund retirement for purported Public Relations.”

The EFCC said investigation was still ongoing as at press time.

More arrests might be made with all the suspects likely to be arraigned for trial.

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